California Plans to Expand Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebates

California's Cash for Appliances fund still has $20 million left. This may be due to their stringent requirements for energy efficiency, and the limited numbers of appliances to which the rebate applies. Rather than changing the energy efficiency standards, California is expanding the scope of the rebates.

As part of the February 2009 Federal Stimulus Act, in April California received $31.7 million for a rebate fund for energy-efficient appliances. Unlike some states that exhausted their funds within days, California's Cash for Appliances fund still has $20 million left. This may be due to their more stringent requirements for energy efficiency, and the limited numbers of appliances to which the rebate applies: $200 for a refrigerator, $100 for a clothes washer, and $50 for a room air conditioner.

Rather than changing the energy efficiency standards, California is expanding the scope of the rebates. If a new proposal passes on July 27, buyers could also earn rebates on dishwaters ($100), freezers ($50), water heaters ($100 to $750) and heating, ventilating and air conditioning units ($200 to $1,000). Buyers must replace an existing appliance of the same type, and recycle the old one.

California's energy efficiency standards are among the strictest in the country--and it's been effective at capping their per capita energy consumption, which has remained steady for more than three decades. More details here.
Back to top